At the age of 55, Alexandra David-Neel walked across the high mountains of the Himalayas. This was her fifth journey in Asia. She walked over 2,000 miles in four months. She had little food or money. Finally, in February 1924, she became the first European woman ever to enter Lhasa, in Tibet. My Journey to Lhasa is David-Neel’s own story of her extraordinary journey. Her achievement is even more remarkable because at that time, Lhasa was closed to foreigners, especially foreign women. To hide herself, she wore the clothes of a beggar. She traveled with her friend, Yongden, and took only the quiet roads. When they arrived in Lhasa, they stayed two months. It was a place she wanted to visit after hearing about Lhasa from Ekai Kawaguchi, a monk she met while traveling in Japan.
Her book is a good introduction to Tibet. Readers will love her descriptions of the people she met along the way. David-Neel knew the Tibetan language and the culture, so it was easy for her to get to know the people. She was a talented writer. She wrote 25 books about Buddhism, philosophy, and her travels, but this is perhaps one of her best. The book gives a real feeling for Tibet and the people there. My Journey to Lhasa is a great book to read if you want to visit Tibet, or if you just like a good story. It’s also useful if you are interested in Buddhism. David-Neel studied Buddhism for many years. The book is a wonderful story by a very remarkable woman. It was first published in 1927 and includes many interesting photographs of her journey.